Where was William Westmoreland born?
Westmoreland’s Early Life and Military Career William Westmoreland was born in 1914 near Spartanburg, South Carolina, into a family whose ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
When did General Westmoreland die?
Born William Childs Westmoreland, March 26, 1914, in Spartanburg, SC; died July 18, 2005, in Charleston, SC. Military general. William C. Westmoreland was a four-star general who led American troops during a significant portion of the Vietnam War.
Why is William Westmoreland important in history?
Why is William Westmoreland important? William Westmoreland commanded U.S. forces in the Vietnam Warfrom 1964 to 1968. He treated the conflict as a war of attrition, which diminished domestic support. In December 1956 he was promoted to major general; at 42 years old, he was then the youngest person holding that rank in the U.S. Army.
What was William Westmoreland's rank when he was in the military?
He reached the temporary wartime rank of colonel, and on October 13, 1944, was appointed the chief of staff of the 9th Infantry Division. After the war, Westmoreland completed paratrooper training at the Army's jump school in 1946.
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Is General Westmoreland still living?
July 18, 2005William Westmoreland / Date of death
When was William Westmoreland born?
March 26, 1914William Westmoreland / Date of birthWilliam Westmoreland, in full William Childs Westmoreland, (born March 26, 1914, Spartanburg county, South Carolina, U.S.—died July 18, 2005, Charleston, South Carolina), U.S. Army officer who commanded U.S. forces in the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968.
Where is General Westmoreland buried?
West Point Cemetery, West Point, NYWilliam Westmoreland / Place of burialWest Point Cemetery is a historic cemetery in the eastern United States, on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. Wikipedia
Was Westmoreland a good general?
Yes, eminently. General Westmoreland had complete freedom of action in deciding how to prosecute the war within South Vietnam. He decided to conduct of a war of attrition, using search and destroy tactics, in which the measure of merit was body count.
What happened to Westmoreland?
Both Charles Westmoreland and Marilyn were killed by Brad Bellick.
When did Westmoreland leave Vietnam?
The end was not in sight, and no one knew when it would be. On March 22, 1968, Johnson announced that Westmoreland would be leaving Vietnam to take up the post of Army Chief of Staff. Nine days later, LBJ surprised by the nation by saying he would not seek re-election.
What rank was general Westmoreland?
In 1955, the 42-year-old Westmoreland was promoted to major general, becoming the youngest man to have achieved that rank in the U.S. Army.
Why did Westmoreland fail in Vietnam?
1. And the number one reason why Westmoreland lost the war in Vietnam: With his unavailing approach to conduct of the war he squandered four years of support by much of the American people, the Congress, and even the media.
Who were the Viet Cong's?
The Viet Cong was an armed communist revolutionary organization in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. It fought under the direction of North Vietnam, against the South Vietnamese and United States governments during the Vietnam War, eventually emerging on the winning side.
How many generals did us lose in Vietnam?
Nearly a dozen general officers and one admiral were killed while supporting military operations in Vietnam. They include Maj. Gen. George William Casey Sr., whose helicopter went missing over Vietnam on July 7, 1970.
Who was the leader of Vietnam during the Vietnam War?
Ho Chi MinhBorn Nguyen Sinh Cung, and known as "Uncle Ho," Ho Chi Minh led the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 1945-69. Ho had embraced communism while living abroad in England and France from 1915-23; in 1919, he petitioned the powers at the Versailles peace talks for equal rights in Indochina.
What did ARVN stand for?
Scorned by allies and enemies alike, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was one of the most maligned fighting forces in modern history. Cobbled together by U.S. advisers from the remnants of the French-inspired Vietnamese National Army, it was effectively pushed aside by the Americans in 1965.
Why did Westmoreland fail in Vietnam?
1. And the number one reason why Westmoreland lost the war in Vietnam: With his unavailing approach to conduct of the war he squandered four years of support by much of the American people, the Congress, and even the media.
What rank was general Westmoreland?
In 1955, the 42-year-old Westmoreland was promoted to major general, becoming the youngest man to have achieved that rank in the U.S. Army.
Who replaced Westmoreland?
General AbramsThe Tet offensive of January 1968 appeared to discredit the strategy of attrition and contributed to the ouster of Westmoreland and his replacement by General Abrams. General Abrams promoted a one-war strategy that had the desired end-state of population security for the people of South Vietnam.
Who did the ARVN fight?
Starting in 1969 President Richard Nixon started the process of "Vietnamization", pulling out American forces and rendering the ARVN capable of fighting an effective war against the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and VC.
Why is William Westmoreland important?
William Westmoreland commanded U.S. forces in the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968. He treated the conflict as a war of attrition, which diminished do...
What did William Westmoreland accomplish during World War II?
William Westmoreland’s battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its role in preventing a German breakthrough following the American...
Why was William Westmoreland named Time's Man of the Year in 1965?
William Westmoreland played a key role as general in expanding U.S. commitment in Vietnam when North Vietnamese regulars threatened to cut through...
How did William Westmoreland influence the outcome of the Vietnam War?
As head of U.S. forces in Vietnam, William Westmoreland pursued a war of attrition: the number of dead enemy fighters was the key measure of merit....
How did William Westmoreland die?
William Westmoreland lived with Alzheimer disease for at least a decade before he died on July 18, 2005. He was buried at the United States Militar...
How old was William Westmoreland when he was promoted to Major General?
He treated the conflict as a war of attrition, which diminished domestic support. In December 1956 he was promoted to major general; at 42 years old, he was then the youngest person holding that rank in the U.S. Army.
Where is William Westmoreland buried?
How did William Westmoreland die? William Westmoreland lived with Alzheimer disease for at least a decade before he died on July 18, 2005. He was buried at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Why was William Westmoreland awarded the Presidential Unit Citation?
William Westmoreland’s battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its role in preventing a German breakthrough following the American defeat at the Battle of Kasserine Pass (February 14–24, 1943) in west-central Tunisia. He and his troops fought throughout Europe, and he received several promotions.
Who was Westmoreland buried with?
After some 18 weeks of the trial, and only days before the case would have gone to a jury, Westmoreland withdrew his suit. After living with Alzheimer disease for at least a decade, Westmoreland died and was buried at West Point. Lewis Sorley.
Who was the general in Vietnam?
William Westmoreland played a key role as general in expanding U.S. commitment in Vietnam when North Vietnamese regulars threatened to cut through South Vietnam in the Central Highlands. From 1965 to 1967, he was instrumental in raising the level of U.S. forces committed to South Vietnam and in developing the strategy for the ground war.
Where did Lewis Sorley go to college?
Lewis Sorley, a former soldier, is a graduate of West Point and holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. His Army service included tank and armored cavalry units in Germany, Vietnam, and the U.S.,...
Where was William Westmoreland born?
William Westmoreland was born in 1914 near Spartanburg, South Carolina, into a family whose ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He earned an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1936; his fellow cadets called him “Westy.”.
What was William Westmoreland's military career?
Westmoreland and the Impact of Tet Offensive. Westmoreland’s Post-Vietnam Life and Career. President Lyndon Johnson chose William Westmoreland, a distinguished veteran of World War II and the Korean War, to command the U.S.
What was the Westmoreland strategy?
Westmoreland’s strategy in Vietnam depended on the superiority of U.S. firepower, including intensive aerial bombardments of regular enemy units.
What was the name of the documentary that claimed that Westmoreland misrepresented enemy troop strength?
After a CBS News documentary, “The Uncounted Enemy, ” claimed that Westmoreland had knowingly misrepresented enemy troop strength prior to the Tet Offensive, Westmoreland filed a $120 million libel lawsuit against the news network in 1982. He eventually dropped the suit, with both sides claiming victory.
Did Westmoreland drop the suit?
He eventually dropped the suit, with both sides claiming victory. In the years following the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam, Westmoreland became a noted public supporter of Vietnam veterans, leading a march to the Vietnam Memorial in 1982 and a gathering of some 200,000 veterans in Chicago in 1986.
What was the name of the command that Westmoreland was given?
The following year he was moved to the Army War College in the same capacity. With the Korean War raging, Westmoreland was given command of the 187th Regimental Combat Team. Arriving in Korea, he led the 187th for over a year before returning to the US to become deputy assistant chief of staff, G–1, for manpower control.
What did Westmoreland do after graduation?
In addition, he received the Pershing Sword which was given to the most outstanding cadet in the class. After graduation, Westmoreland was assigned to the artillery.
How did Westmoreland believe the Viet Cong could be defeated?
Westmoreland believed that the Viet Cong could be defeated through large-scale use of artillery, air power, and large-unit battles. General William Westmoreland with President Lyndon B. Johnson in the White House, November 1967. National Archives and Records Administration.
Why was Westmoreland attacked?
While necessary, Westmoreland was attacked by the establishment for being too liberal. Westmoreland was also faced in this period with having to deal with widespread civil disturbance. Employing troops where necessary, he worked to aid in quelling the domestic unrest caused by the Vietnam War.
What was William Childs Westmoreland's rank?
Joining the Boy Scouts as a youth, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout before entering the Citadel in 1931. After one year in school, he transferred to West Point. During his time at the academy he proved to be an exceptional cadet and by graduation had become the corps' first captain. In addition, he received the Pershing Sword which was given to the most outstanding cadet in the class. After graduation, Westmoreland was assigned to the artillery.
What division did Westmoreland command?
After moving through a number of infantry assignments, Westmoreland was asked by Gavin to take command of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (82nd Airborne Division) in 1946. While in this assignment, ...
What was Westmoreland's goal in Vietnam?
During his tenure in Vietnam, Westmoreland had sought to win a battle of attrition with the North Vietnamese, however, he was never able to force the enemy to abandon a guerilla-style of warfare which repeatedly left his own forces at a disadvantage.
Why was Westmoreland important?
Westmoreland became an important part of the campaign, making several trips back to the United States for speaking engagements and briefings of political leaders. Even before those trips began, a most revealing flap on the implications and integrity of reporting came to light.
Who did Westmoreland send his Special Assistant to?
Instead he sent his Special Assistant, a general officer, out to Vietnam to confer with Westmoreland about how to make the problem go away. By 22 March 1967 Westmoreland could report by cable to Admiral Sharp the fixes that had been made.
How many enemy battalions were there in 1967?
He had been informed that the MACV Periodic Intelligence Report for January 1967 showed that, of about 385 enemy battalions making contact with friendly forces during the period 1 February 1966 through 31 January 1967, approximately two-thirds had been contacted as a result of enemy initiative.
Where was John Westmoreland born?
Westmoreland was born near Spartanburg, South Carolina, into a business and banking family. He attended South Carolina's Citadel military college, and, in 1936, went on to graduate from West Point, the leading US military academy, where his academic record was average. However, he was awarded the highest command position in ...
When I dined with John Wayne in 1981, he came across as an old and stubborn warrior, still
When I dined with him in 1981, he came across as an old and stubborn warrior, still blaming the US public for not supporting the troops in the field. (When I asked him where he lived, he said: "Charleston. It's a typical southern town, you can still find Negro servants.")
Was Westmoreland a tainted commander?
Westmoreland was permanently tainted as the commander of what became the worst military defeat ever suffered by the US. This aura clung to him even years after he had retired. In 1980, during the presidential primaries, he was on the same flight to Charleston, South Carolina, as Republican candidate Ronald Reagan.
Did Westmoreland understand the breaking point?
As Stanley Karnow, the Vietnam reporter and historian noted: "Westmoreland did not understand - nor did anyone else understand - that there was not a breaking point. Instead of breaking their morale, they were breaking ours.".
Did John Westmoreland jump?
From 1952, Westmoreland served in the tail end of the Korean war, where he was promoted to brigadier, and was then given command of the prestigious 101st Airborne Division, though he never actually made a combat jump. He had gained the approval of senior US military figures during a spell in the Pentagon, and, in 1960, ...
More information
William Childs Westmoreland (March 26, 1914 – July 18, 2005) was a United States Army general, most notably commander of United States forces during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1968 to 1972.
Geographical origins
The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived.
Who is the author of the biography of William Childs Westmoreland?
It is reprinted here with the permission of the Gazette. Lewis Sorley’ s eviscerating biography of General William Childs Westmoreland is long overdue, powerful for its restraint and careful annotation, a complete treatment of a man who caused tremendous damage to his Army and his country.
When the ship of American state is sunk in Vietnam, is Westmoreland still sure he was right
When the ship of American state is sunk in Vietnam, Westmoreland is still sure he was right, rewarded by promotion upstairs , dedicated to his last unhappy breath in 2005 to justifying his deeply wrong strategy of bloody attrition in that war.
Early Life
World War II
- With the outbreak of World War II, Westmoreland swiftly rose through the ranks as the army expanded to meet wartime needs, reaching lieutenant colonel by September 1942. Initially an operations officer, he was soon given command of the 34th Field Artillery Battalion (9th Division) and saw service in North Africa and Sicily before the unit was transferred to England for use in …
Korean War
- Serving with the 82nd for four years, Westmoreland rose to become the division's chief of staff. In 1950, he was detailed to the Command and General Staff College as instructor. The following year he was moved to the Army War College in the same capacity. With the Korean Warraging, Westmoreland was given command of the 187th Regimental Combat Team. Arriving in Korea, h…
Vietnam War
- Shortly after his arrival, Westmoreland was made permanent commander of MACV and given command of all US forces in Vietnam. Leading 16,000 men in 1964, Westmoreland oversaw the escalation of the conflict and had 535,000 troops under his control when he departed in 1968. Employing an aggressive strategy of search and destroy, he sought to draw the forces of the Vie…
Army Chief of Staff
- Returning home, Westmoreland was criticized as the general who "won every battle until [he] lost the war." Assigned as Army Chief of Staff, Westmoreland continued to oversee the war from afar. Taking control in a difficult period, he assisted Abrams in winding down operations in Vietnam, while also attempting to transition the US Army to an all-volunteer force. In doing so, he worked t…